Location

UMass Amherst

Event Website

http://fishpassage.ecs.umass.edu/Conference2012/

Start Date

5-6-2012 10:30 AM

End Date

5-6-2012 10:50 AM

Description

Tests with Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon (sns), Acipenser brevirostrum, in the Conte AFRC flume (36.6 m long x 6.1 m ft wide x 4.3 m deep) observed sns behavior, impingement, and entrainment as they encountered a vertical bar rack (5 cm clear spacing). Cultured juveniles (yearlings and older, larger fish), and wild adults were observed. Three mean approach bottom water velocities (30.5 cm, 61, and 91 cm/s) were used in tests with no orifice in the rack; other tests observed sns at 61 cm/s approach velocity to the rack with an orifice (1 m2 opening) in the rack. Underwater video camera and TIRIS PIT systems monitored sns movement and behavior at the bar rack. Most sns were oriented tail downstream when they were 60 cm upstream from the rack, so fish were backing down the flume. Initial movement at the rack of some fish in all age classes was to swim upward. No adult or older juvenile was impinged or entrained during any approach velocity. No yearling was impinged at 30.5 cm/s, but 7.7–12.5 % was impinged at 61 cm/s, and 33.3–40.0 % was impinged at 91 cm/s. The entrainment of yearlings at the three approach velocities follow: 4.3–9.1% at 30.5 cm/s, 7.1–27.8% at 61 cm/s, and 66.7–80.0 % at 91 cm/s. Number of sns tracked at the rack with the orifice and the number (%) that entered the orifice follows: 21 yearlings tracked and six (28.6 %) entered the orifice; 17 older juveniles tracked and 7 (41.2 %) entered the orifice; nine adults tracked and zero entered. All of the 13 fish entering the orifice approached on or just above the bottom. Four swam headfirst downstream through the orifice, the remainder (nine sns) went tailfirst. Six of 13 fish swam in and out (upstream) of the orifice, the remainder swam one-way downstream through the orifice. Some juveniles (even yearlings) will enter an orifice with no attraction flow. The low number of sns using the orifice could be due to the colder than normal water temperatures, orifice characteristics, etc. and needs study.

Comments

Boyd Kynard retired in 2008 after 30 years as a migratory fish research biologist for the FWS, BRD, and USGS (Conte AFRC). Presently collaborating on migratory fish research and fish passage in Brazil, China, and Romania.

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Jun 5th, 10:30 AM Jun 5th, 10:50 AM

Session B1 - Behavior, impingement, and entrainment of shortnose sturgeon at a vertical bar rack: with and without a bypass orifice

UMass Amherst

Tests with Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon (sns), Acipenser brevirostrum, in the Conte AFRC flume (36.6 m long x 6.1 m ft wide x 4.3 m deep) observed sns behavior, impingement, and entrainment as they encountered a vertical bar rack (5 cm clear spacing). Cultured juveniles (yearlings and older, larger fish), and wild adults were observed. Three mean approach bottom water velocities (30.5 cm, 61, and 91 cm/s) were used in tests with no orifice in the rack; other tests observed sns at 61 cm/s approach velocity to the rack with an orifice (1 m2 opening) in the rack. Underwater video camera and TIRIS PIT systems monitored sns movement and behavior at the bar rack. Most sns were oriented tail downstream when they were 60 cm upstream from the rack, so fish were backing down the flume. Initial movement at the rack of some fish in all age classes was to swim upward. No adult or older juvenile was impinged or entrained during any approach velocity. No yearling was impinged at 30.5 cm/s, but 7.7–12.5 % was impinged at 61 cm/s, and 33.3–40.0 % was impinged at 91 cm/s. The entrainment of yearlings at the three approach velocities follow: 4.3–9.1% at 30.5 cm/s, 7.1–27.8% at 61 cm/s, and 66.7–80.0 % at 91 cm/s. Number of sns tracked at the rack with the orifice and the number (%) that entered the orifice follows: 21 yearlings tracked and six (28.6 %) entered the orifice; 17 older juveniles tracked and 7 (41.2 %) entered the orifice; nine adults tracked and zero entered. All of the 13 fish entering the orifice approached on or just above the bottom. Four swam headfirst downstream through the orifice, the remainder (nine sns) went tailfirst. Six of 13 fish swam in and out (upstream) of the orifice, the remainder swam one-way downstream through the orifice. Some juveniles (even yearlings) will enter an orifice with no attraction flow. The low number of sns using the orifice could be due to the colder than normal water temperatures, orifice characteristics, etc. and needs study.

https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2012/June5/5